Hyundai confident new Tucson will replicate Creta and Santa Fe's success

Hyundai has put its focus on positioning SUVs in almost every price bracket in India. With the unveiling of Tucson at the 2016 Auto Expo earlier this week, the Korean car manufacturer will now boast of three SUVs in the country.

According to reports, the Creta has created a huge market for itself with dealers reporting a waiting period of close to a month. Launched last year, the SUV — priced between Rs 8.8 lakhs and Rs 13.98 lakhs (ex-showroom), Creta has found buyers due to its stylish looks and long list of creature comforts inside. On the other end of Hyundai's SUV spectrum is Santa Fe which too has been appreciated for its looks and reliability.

The Tucson will be positioned between the two cars once launched in India later in the year. Expected to be priced between Rs 17 lakh and Rs 20 lakh, the latest car is the third-generation Tucson, with the first generation faring poorly and the second generation never making it to Indian shores. However, Hyundai officials are confident that the latest Tucson will do brisk business despite options on either end of the price bracket from the same manufacturer. "Creta did really well but our studies showed that there was a white space between it and Santa Fe. This is the reason we wanted to give an SUV with an aspirational value to Indians and chose to bring in Tucson," Hyundai's general manager (marketing) and group head — Puneet Anand, told timesofindia.com.

Anand is confident that while Creta and Santa Fe will continue to top their respective SUV category, Tucson will create its own niche in the market. "Creta made a mark of its own and so did Santa Fe. Tucson too will help us add volumes to our sales and there is no chance of the three cannibalizing markets of each other," he said.

Tucson was introduced at the Auto Expo and it boasts of Hyundai's signature hexagonal grille and LED headlamps. The car has long bonnet curves and a masculine feel to its overall appearance. On the inside, Hyundai promises to stay true to its commitment of providing a lengthy list of conveniences which now include an eight-inch touchscreen multimedia system, automated parking and electrically powered tailgate. The car will be a five-seater. The Tucson will come in a 1.6-litre T-GDI petrol, 1.7-litre diesel and 2.0-litre diesel variants.

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